Fuzio

that fire cracker pork fusilli is bomb!
I jones for it.

Location #2 has CLOSED. Fuzio was never great, just okay for a salad or pasta dish. If dining in a group we’d add the Vietnamese spring rolls and calamari to share. After a while everyone was tired of the same thing.
The problem is that competing restaurants evolved and customers now had better dining options, while this Italian fusion place kept the same formula and didn’t adapt. Same thing happened to location #3 in the Marina, 2 years ago.

I had an absolutely horrific experience here as did my friend! I ordered the salmon which was served with vegetables. The salmon and vegetables tasted OK; not amazing and not even good enough for the price. I was also very disappointed with the slow service and my pomegranate martini which I ordered with top shelf vodka so there’s no excuse for the poor taste.
As if the mediocre dinner and unsatisfying cocktail (so sad to put these two words together) weren’t enough to make for a bad review– my friend and I both got sick that evening. I’m not sure if it was the fish or the vegetables, but since my friend ordered a different protein I’m guessing it was the vegetables. Perhaps the oil was rancid? I’m not sure what the cause was but both my dining experience and the after effects of the meal were wretched and I will never ever go back to this disgusting excuse for a restaurant.

So yesterday me and my husband wanted to go somewhere cheap and tasty. AND a mixed drink or two for a decent price. We decided and we made our way to Fuzio’s. Best choice I made all week!
We were greeted and pleasantly waited on by Jonathan. He was on top of our drinks and order, I couldn’t of asked for better service! We had appetizers at $ 3 a pop and half a pizza for $ 5, that’s a pretty good deal considering the drinks were around the same price. I highly recommend coming here on any given afternoon for some fun cheap appetizers and stellar service! Thank you Fuzio and Jonathan for making me forget the lousy service I had received the last two places I’ve been this week!!!

I stopped in a couple weeks ago when my friend and I needed a quick lunch. Probably time to take this place down a star not because something changed and the food doesn’t taste as good as it once did… it was never great… but because nothing has changed, absolutely nothing.
If you want pasta and can’t be bothered to make it yourself (a situation I find myself in frequently) this is better than Firewood. But if it’s going to be just as easy to make it up to the Lower Haight, I’d suggest going up $ 4 more a plat to visit Uva. And at Uva the cocktails will most definitely be better and probably cost the same.

Fuzio’s is Italian mediocrity at it’s best. Bland salad, bland pasta.
I started off with their Caesar Salad. Lettuce was overripe and the salad was drenched in too much dressing with a measly 3 croutons. An over dressed lettuce salad at it’s best.
For their main I tried their Fuzio Firecracker Pork Fusilli. Less of a Firecracker, more of a dud. Weakly seasoned and more like a bowl of pasta gone bad. I just didn’t taste the flavors as well as I would of liked to based on it’s sizzling tasty name.

Service is fast and friendly. I had the Chicken Masala with Potobella mushroom, rice and greens. Good price for really good food. Lettuce wraps is also savory and delicious.
Would definitely recommend and will come back!

3.5 stars, and I might round it up later depending on how I feel about this place later.
$ 3 appetizers during happy hour. OH MY GOD.
Oh wait, why in the world am I Unilocaling on Christmas? I shall depart now.
*Chicken lettuce wraps, calamari = YUM
*Mango lemonade = weird aftertaste :(
*Raspberry lemonade = YUM
*Crab cakes = Salty and not worth even three dollars.
Merry Christmas on Unilocal!:)

One of the best Happy Hours available. $ 3 well drinks, bud ans bud light’s, 3 dollar appetizers, and discounts on signature cocktails. Nice atmosphere and chill friendly staff.
The have great pulled pork sliders, Vietnamese spring rolls, and please try the Fuzio Margarita.

I think I’m being generous with 2-​stars. I rarely write a bad review butttttt this is sadly a well-​deserved review.
Food: 2 stars
Service: 0 stars
The service was almost non-​existant. I think we saw him twice. The food (chicken lettuce wraps and pasta fagioli soup) were pretty good. But the service just ruined it.
I won’t be back.

My co workers took me here for lunch when I was leaving my firm. I had never eaten here but they told me it was great. I’m giving 4 stars for the excellent food and atmosphere.
We all ordered the calamari pasta noodle plate. It was SOOOO good and it was just the right size. It kind of bugs me when every italian restaurant around serves you a huge serving of pasta (like anyone ever needs to eat more carbs). I guess if you can find a way to control yourself and learn portion control then this would be a good thing but I am definitely not one of those people. We also ordered the mango tea and YUMMY! I enjoyed it :). After all that the crème brûlée came and that was also pretty exquisite. Everything was just smooth goodness and I loved every savory moment. Plus conversation was awesome.
The only neg was the service. Our waiter had a really weird sense of humor… this was FIDI for goodness sake, not Dick’s in Vegas. So we would have appreciated a little more hospitality and a little less sarcastic hostility. Plus he took FOREVER to get our orders and to refill our glasses. Fortunately, I’m in a sweet mood so I’m still giving 4 stars :)

I always liked the vibe at Fuzio in the Castro. There’s an energy about it that I feel good in – it’s kind of fast paced yet inviting at the same time. It’s a small place that can get quite packed and test your personal space boundaries but I have always liked going there.
We have gotten to know a few of the servers – Tomaso in particular has always been terrific. The other servers have been just as good. Friendly and accommodating. Sometimes I think they bring everything out too soon but they will slow things down a bit if you ask them to.
It definitely helps to know the menu. A lot of Unilocalers have made note of the Firecracker Pork Fusilli and I’m right there with them. I also like to order the angel hair pasta with fresh tomatoes and basil. I ask for shrimp and chile flakes to be added to this pasta entrée and I’m good to go! Some of their other dishes like the chicken marsala are quite tasty but the chicken itself has a reheated texture to it. I try to stick to the pasta and salad dishes.
If you can get there before 7pm, then you can get appetizers for 3 bucks. The martinis are tasty and well mixed.

I went here on a Wednesday night and boy was I happy I did. Half price off all pasta dishes was the best thing to happen to my bank account all day!
We opted for the bar seating in front of the cook, since we were starving and a table would have taken longer than our stomachs could wait. I was completely distracted whenever a huge flame went up at the grill, but other than that, the bar spot was a great place to talk and catch up, since we didn’t have to yell across a table.
Everything looked amazing on the menu and I couldn’t decide, so I told our server to give me whatever dish he wanted as long as it wasn’t spicy. He brought me fried calamari linguine (without the chili flakes) and I am so happy he did, because it was so tasty.
Despite the fact the dish had fried calamari, it felt extremely light. There was no heavy sauce, just a mix of olive oil and maybe parmesan (not sure and am too lazy to look up their menu right now). Whatever the case, I felt like it was a healthy choice as far as pasta goes.
The server was really friendly and attentive to our water needs and made a great choice in what to bring me.
I had a great experience and would go back on half off Wednesdays only (I can’t possibly pay full price after I’ve had the same food at half price!)

There is only one thing I order here… Firecracker Pork Fusilli. The pasta has a kick to it but the sour cream softens the bite.
This use to be a favorite of mine when I use to live in the city and I still come back everytime I visit since what’s not to love about the Castro area and great pasta!

Trying to find a place to eat in Castro is pretty difficult because of so many restaurants/​options in the densely populated area. There are Thai restaurants, Japanese, American, Asian Fusion, Mexican, Pizza, Sandwiches, chain restaurants, desserts, and much more. So after walking around for a good hour, my awesome food buddy and I settled on Fuzio. The place smelled great from the outside and the prices seemed very inexpensive and the menu sounded great. Walking in, we were greeted by a very cheery staff. We chose our seats which I love to do and we were one our way to a cool dining experience.
We ordered the gemelli, onion strings, cesaer salad, and cheesesteak panini. Everything came out quick and service was really attentive. Place was popping with a fun crowd and smiles all around. Our food was good except for the onion strings which were a little on the too super thin side. I prefer the onion strings from The Counter but oh wells. Everything else was fantastic and since the kitchen is in front, we ended up smelling like the food. It’s ok, Fuzio was the last stop for the day and it was a good stop.

Oh c’mon, I can’t be the only one who thinks of this Phil Collins song when the name of this place comes up. Man, I even bought this on vinyl. I used to love it. Probably still do but can’t quite admit it. It ain’t «Easy Lover» after all, but hey, it’s close…
It’s their penne that’s been on my mind
All the time, Fu-​Fu-​Fuzio oh oh
Now they don’t even care I came
But I think it adds to my ass just the same
Fu-​Fu-​Fuzio oh oh
Oh if it tasted fine I’d be there
I’d come running anywhere
It’s all I need, all my life
I’d feel so good if they’d just serve some Tums
Fu-​Fu-​Fuzio, just serve some Tums
Oh Fu-​Fu-​Fuzio
Now I know that I’m way too fat
But my meal has just begun
Fu-​Fu-​Fuzio oh oh
Ooh give me some cambazola cheese
I’ll eat it when I please
Fu-​Fu-​Fuzio oh oh
Ah, I’ve just got to have it, have it now
I ordered pad thai but I don’t know why
It gives me such gas and makes me scared
I’d feel so good if they’d just serve some Tums
Fu-​Fu-​Fuzio, just serve some Tums
Oh Fu-​Fu-​Fuzio, oh
Ah, it’s all I need all my life
I’d feel so good if they’d just serve some Tums
Fu-​Fu-​Fuzio they’d just serve some Tums
Oh Fu-​Fu-​Fuzio they’d just serve some Tums
Oh Fu-​Fu-​Fuzio they’d serve some Tums
Fu-​Fu-​Fuzio oh oh oh
Just serve some Tums… just serve some Tums… just serve some Tums…
Fu-Fu-Fuzio…Fu-Fu-Fuzio…Fu-Fuzio
It’s actually pretty good for a small restaurant chain, though I’ve learned over the years to be wary of any place that serves pasta from around the world on their menu. It’s the misbegotten theory behind Jack-in-the-Box…serve everything under the sun and then have the quality of all the food gravitate toward mediocre. But if you stay away from the Asian atrocities, you can have a decent meal with the more straightforward Italian-​style dishes.
Jamie W. went for the $ 9.50 Cambazola Rigatoni, which had large cream-​saturated rigatoni tubes mixed with grilled chicken breast, cambazola cheese, caramelized button mushrooms and basil (see my photo). Not bad. Mine was pretty good, too… the $ 10.75 Chicken Sausage Penne, which had large chunks of sausage, roasted red bell peppers, basil and parmesan — all mixed in a not-​too-​heavy marinara sauce (see my photo).
I was also surprised how good and light the $ 4.25 Caesar salad was (see my photo). However, I have to bring the rating down for the overcrowded tables — which made a private conversation virtually impossible — and the service was a little too fast on the draw. I had half a focaccia left before he zipped by and took my plate without asking. Bad move, dude. But you can do worse in the Castro. I’d still go with Nirvana if you have a hankering for global noodles.
FOOD — 3.5 stars… pretty good pasta dishes… stick with the Italian-​style standards, not fond of the the Asian ones
AMBIANCE — 3 stars… pretty tight in there and neighbors were in my space, Fu-​Fuzio
SERVICE — 3 stars… fast but too fast… I really wanted to finish my focaccia
TOTAL — 3 stars… passable Castro fare but passing by it is fine, too… if they’d just serve some Tums

Good food overall, but overcrowded space, rude service, and crappy parking make this a generally bad choice for dinner.
However, if it’s convenient to get take-​out, I definitely recommend the following:
Their caesar salad is delicious, the calamari appetizer is an oldie-​but-​goodie, and my friend adores their carrot-​ginger soup (I can’t have this, b/​c I’m allergic to garlic AND carrots).
My husband LOVES their firecracker pork fusilli, but be warned it’s definitely on the spicy side!
And I LOVE their rigatoni alfuzio which I’ve had them make sans the garlic many times. Don’t bother adding the chicken for $ 3, you won’t get enough of it to make it worth the price… and be warned, the cooking at Fuzio is inconsistent, so sometimes your pasta might be a bit overdone.
If you are a big fan of tiramisu, you might want to skip theirs — it’s not very flavorful or rich, but instead I found it overly sweet. Better to get your tiramisu at Firewood Café on 18^th St.
WHEELCHAIR ACCESS: While theoretically you could get a wheelchair in the door, this place is so cramped and overcrowded, I wouldn’t advise it. I wound up having my wheelchair constantly bumped by peeved servers who acted like I was the one who was in the way. I didn’t even bother trying to find a bathroom, since maneuvering around in this space just seemed futile without any support from the staff.
Overall, I would’ve given this place four stars, if not for the snobbish, rude service we’ve consistently gotten here and how cramped the restaurant is. This is a great place for moderately priced take-​out if you want something different from Pasta Pomodoro, Mexican, or Thai once in a while!

I always get the crispy calamari linguine! Lately I’ve been adventurous. All the dishes I’ve tried are pretty good.
Sometimes there is a wait for a table. It is a very small venue. Waiters are amazing.
Alcoholic drinks are super expensive. Bring your flask.